I often get this unsolicited comment: "I can't eat like you. I love food too much." I am fine with the first sentence. The second sentence, however, is offensive to me. It implies that I don't love food, and I actually think my relationship with food has a deeper love than yours does. I first fell in love with the things you probably are thinking about. The immediately enjoyable charactersitics. The tastes, the flavors, and the rich multidimensional combinations of sweetness and spiciness. It was an immediate and superficial love. Then I began to learn what eating purely for the sake of joy was doing. It was patently unhealthy, and if I kept it up, it would eventually have permanent consequences. Food was destroying me. It had become a very seductive enemy. I ate only what I needed to maintain my life, and I literally ignored taste, flavor, or any of the joys. As time went on, I began to realize that, with an appropriate workout routine and an active lifestyle, I actually needed more of it. Muscle size, strength, and energy were all things that required food. So I started eating more. Still clean. No garbage. Chicken. Salads. Basmati rice. The occasional steak. Veggies. Salmon. Fruit. Sweet potatoes out the wazoo. While the bareness made meals seemingly bland, I grew to appreciate the subtle flavors that live within it. My taste buds were no longer constantly overwhelmed with bold sauces and sugars. They could pick up the beautiful sensations of nature. Furthermore, I also began to appeciate food for more than just its taste and flavor. I began to deeply appreciate food as the fundamental building blocks to grow my body and my soul. The way the nutrients work together to make me the machine that I am. I realized that my initial love for food was actually just a carnal physical attraction. This current relationship was an actual love for food. Its simple design, its beautiful complexity, and its perfect imperfections. Now I eat a ton. So yeah, I might not have the immediate satisfaction that you get when you eat whatever you eat. But I do love food. Every single bite. #virgilsvanitydiet#microwavedsweetpotato#halfachicken#hardestworkersintheroom#formerfatkid

Had another great gym session. #chickenandbroccoli is paying off for sure. Also another great #5kprep day. I shaved a couple seconds off my time. 5k is in a little more than a week and I’m so excited. I also had to buy these shorts today and they are a medium. I have not been able to fit into a medium since middle school #formerfatkid

Had another great gym session. #chickenandbroccoli is paying off for sure. Also another great #5kprep day. I shaved a couple seconds off my time. 5k is in a little more than a week and I’m so excited. I also had to buy them shorts today and they are a medium. I have not been able to fit into a medium since middle school #formerfatkid

Stuffed Peppers on the menu tonight! 🌶5 red bell peppers (or whatever color you prefer) 🌶1 can of black beans 🌶1 cup of Newman’s Own Natural Chunky Salsa (Medium)🍅
🌶1 can whole kernel sweet corn 🌽 🌶1/2 cup Kraft Fat Free cheddar cheese 🧀 (shredded) 🌶1/2 lb ground turkey breast
Cut the tops off of the peppers, and clean out seeds. Mix 🥣 cooked ground turkey, beans, corn & salsa in a bowl. Scoop mix into peppers. In a shallow baking pan, put 1/2 cup of water in the pan & place peppers in pan. Cover with foil & bake for 30 minutes at 350 degrees. Take off foil & add cheese 🧀 to the top. Cook for an additional 10-15 minutes. Serves 5.
🤤😍🙌🏼❤️ Guys, it’s 2 SmartPoints™️ for one pepper...2! 😱🤩😜 I made 3. One for my husband and I and one to have leftover. I put the remaining stuffing in a plastic container, to be used with eggs for a tasty breakfast burrito or omelette 🍳😜🤤🙌🏼🤸🏼‍♀️ Super yummy and great for an on the go morning!! 🌶💥👊🏼🙌🏼💃🏼🤩🌽🤸🏼‍♀️🍅❤️
#weightwatchers#weightlossjourney#lifestylechanges#health#fitness#cleaneating#pinterest#foodie#fooddiary#formerfatkid#gettingfit

Me at 9 years old -> 10 -> 13 -> 18 & 19.
These are the only two sports I ever tried. That cheerleading uniform had to be cut and taken out in order for it to fit. It was the largest available.
Physical exercise was humiliating in ways I can't explain. I was terrible at sports, and looked awkward while being terrible at sports... which pretty much made me not care at all.
Starting my weight loss journey was difficult because of this internalized humiliation (?) Which I think is some sort of anxiety.... What got me through the fear and anxiety I had over exercising in front of other people was the focus on my goal and affirming to myself that I deserve to be here, I deserve to fight for my health, and I deserve to get fit no matter where I am now.
Fat shaming is not okay. It keeps people on the sidelines, afraid to even try. And even the person who is terrible can get better.... right?! If you have fit kids or kids that are good at sports, encourage them to be compassionate to the kids that struggle. And if your kid struggles, encourage them to do THEIR best, not someone else's.
#throwbackthursday#weightlossjourney#strongnotsorry#flexgymvb#formerfatkid#obesetobeast#weightloss

Today I weighed myself & I am 123 lbs...that means I officially weigh less than the amount I’ve lost 😱
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Let’s also be clear - the scale, the number...it doesn’t matter. It’s who I had to become to get where I am, how much I’ve had to overcome and learn and be willing to grow & change, and what I’ve had to fight to achieve - THOSE are the accomplishments I value most. The weight and the measurements are a benefit of making healthy changes.
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This tho is why I became a coach. I’ve achieved EVERYTHING because of the systems I now teach others to not only utilize but also become coaches themselves and help others. All it takes is a decision to try, to commit to something that truly matters, and the positive reach you have is exponential...& that’s pretty badass ☺️🙏🏻
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I hope y’all will stay tuned w me - so many amazing things planned in the days to come for anyone ready to make a lasting, life-long change toward health & becoming their best selves, & I am so pumped about it!!
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💙💙💙
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#transformationtuesday

I begin every workout in this hoodie. By the time I'm done, I've usually taken it off because I'm drenched in sweat, but I always start off in this hoodie. Cisco was the first company I worked for in the Bay Area. That was back when I was a software developer, before I went to the dark side of product management. That was also before I started all this fitness stuff and turned into the Ferrari of people. There were a lot of things that were more difficult as a fat guy, but one thing was much easier. It was easier to identify who was genuinely a good person and who sucked. The true measure of a man is how he treats someone who can do him absolutely no good, and when you are a fat dude, you know that there are lots of people who treat everyone else but you well. They will help everyone else and earn a reputation of being super nice and helpful, and then they will call you lazy and blame you for your inability to pull yourself out of impossible situations. The exact same situations they will help pull anyone else out of. The exact same situations others help pull them out of. I have heard time and time again that anyone who thinks I am lazy formed that idea during my Cisco days, and that was before I turned over this new leaf and became a hard worker. Wrong. I was always a hard worker. Anyone who did not recognize that was influenced by their mental bias against someone who looked like me at the time. The only thing I changed was where I applied my work ethic. I redirected it from a meaningful place to the only thing you sick freaks respect. Just know that, no matter what happens, I know who you really are. I know the kind of person you really are. I know how you treat people who can do you absolutely no good. Just know that, no matter how many people you help or how saintly you are, I see through your false narrative. I know that, at your core, you are genuinely a bad person. Stay out of my way, or I will rip your throat out. I may not have always been the Ferrari of people, but I have always, no matter what form factor my body was in, been the hardest worker in the room. #virgilsvanityclub#hardestworkerintheroom#earlymorningworkouts#formerfatkid#cisco

I started doing my own macros about a year ago, over that time I have really been able to figure a great system that not only helped me lose weight but improve my conditioning and strength in the gym! I don’t exclude food, I don’t strictly meal prep, and I’m still able to satisfy my food cravings (I’ll admit, I’m addicted to sugar😬 ). Through the programming I’ve been able to drop 25+ pounds and keep it off! A couple months ago I was asked by a couple friends if I could help them as well. I’ll admit I was nervous, controlling my nutritional goals is one thing but the responsibility of helping others made me a little scared! Of course, I knew I had to help them for the pure fact that everyone deserves help when trying to attain goals. Over the last couple months, we have all had great success, goals have been achieved and new ones set! Yesterday I received this text from Kayla and it really made me proud that not only could I help her reach her goals but the fact that the other members were there to assist her on her journey as well! Due to this success I have decided to open this up to a few more people to help them reach their nutritional goals as well. No matter where you are in life a little extra support and guidance, along with a great group of friends can go a long way to helping you achieve those goals! If you’re interested in getting your nutrition on track, please feel free to DM me and I can help get you started to reach those goals! #crossfit#crossfitmix#macros#macrocounting#nutritioncoach#nutrition#formerfatkid#abs#stillworkingonit

The same people who used to roll their eyes at my desire to indulge in amazing food nonstop and enjoy my life to the fullest, are the same people who now roll their eyes at my insistence on hitting the iron paradise every morning and eating like a machine. What I have realized is, you roll your eyes at anything that demonstrates someone is more committed to a goal than your pathetic half-ass lifestyle allows you to be. You roll your eyes at anyone who doesn't celebrate mediocrity like you. #virgilsvanityclub#earlymorningworkouts#bootstoasses#dontcelebratemediocrity#formerfatkid

Pic I grabbed last night on my way out of the gym. I was stoaked last night cause it was my first time back at the gym in a week and a half. It felt like eternity, but sometimes listening to docs isn't a terrible idea. Excited to be back the time off gave me a chance to rework my plan and get a few things settled in my life. #backatit#icantstop#valentinesday#onwarduntilmorning